U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday that he has taken control of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), vowing to end what he called its “insubordination” to President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Speaking during a visit to El Salvador, Rubio told reporters, “I’m the acting director of USAID,” though he clarified that he would delegate day-to-day operations to a staff member.

The move follows Trump’s close ally and advisor, Elon Musk, vowing to dismantle USAID, criticizing its spending and influence abroad. Over the weekend, USAID’s website went offline, fueling speculation about its fate.

Rubio, who had supported foreign assistance during his time in the Senate, accused USAID of acting as if it were an independent non-governmental organization (NGO) rather than an arm of the U.S. government.

“In many cases, USAID is involved in programs that run counter to what we’re trying to do with our national strategy,” Rubio said. “It’s been 20 or 30 years that people have tried to reform it.”

Rubio also criticized USAID professionals, many of whom have reportedly been placed on leave, for failing to provide adequate responses to Trump administration inquiries about funding and priorities.

“That level of insubordination makes it impossible to conduct a serious review,” he said. “It’s going to stop and it’s going to end.”

The sudden shake-up has raised concerns among development experts and lawmakers, as USAID has long played a central role in global humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and democracy promotion. Critics worry that Rubio’s control signals a shift away from traditional U.S. foreign aid priorities.

While Rubio did not outline specific changes, he suggested that many of USAID’s functions would continue—though under stricter oversight.

The Trump administration’s move to rein in USAID is expected to face pushback from Congress and international partners, who rely on the agency’s funding and leadership in global development efforts.